Scammers Using Robin Williams’ Death To Dupe People On Social Media

US actor Robin Williams arrives for the European premiere of 'Happy Feet Two' in central London on November 20, 2011.

(Photo Credit: CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images)

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The death of Robin Williams stunned a lot of people.

And now, there’s a warning about some scammers trying to take advantage of the situation.

Williams was loved by millions, and when word of his death spread, people immediately began posting messages on Facebook and Twitter.

But beware of some of the messages you may see on social media.

The Better Business Bureau now warns that some of those posts are not what they appear to be.

“Social media posts are being provided linking to video claiming its unreleased police footage from the time of his death or information where you can see his last words before he died,” said Caitlin Driscoll with the BBB.

They call it “click jacking,” because if you click on the links, it takes you to somewhere you don’t expect.

“If you do click, it will either likely lead you to a video player – where it asks you to download the latest version in order to view the information – you’re really just downloading a virus,” said Driscoll. “Or it may take you to a survey that you have to complete.”

“By doing that – they’ll have your information that they can sell to companies for solicitations and you’ll just end up being put on a number of different spam lists,” Driscoll added.

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